Severus had never felt more confused – and frustrated – in his life.

What was I thinking? he thought, gut-wrenching fear and frustration warring in his belly as he walked quickly down the stairs towards the dungeons. Kissing Narcissa in plain sight in the hallway… besides being not the girl I was after, anyone could have seen it! It was too soon, too quick… by Merlin, what was I thinking?

Perhaps the answer is that you weren't, the snide voice in his mind replied with a cool chuckle. Or should I say that the wrong head did your thinking for you… and, of course, like the sex-starved teenager that you are, you let your hormones lead you on…

Severus clenched his fist as he turned sharply down the corner, scowling at a pair of Hufflepuff second years that were jabbering by a nearby pillar. Well, considering I don't have a Time-Turner, there's no going back now, is there? he thought furiously. I've got to deal with the ramification of my actions… I kissed Narcissa, and if that doesn't seal our relationship for all the damned gossip-mongers of Hogwarts, I don't know what will? Rosier's going to be furious, and so will Lily…

Despite himself, Severus swallowed hard. He hadn't planned for this. When I was making my plan to get Lily back, I wasn't intending to get involved with Narcissa… especially not like this. I'm going to have to explain this all to her if I want to have a hope of getting her to talk to me again… but if I want to connect with Lily in any way, that'll mean crossing Narcissa, and if I value my skin, I can't do that! She might understand if I go to talk to her, but the rest of the school won't, and my reputation will be ruined, Lucius will know, and Narcissa will have to dump me or risk political ruination – a decision she won't want to make because that puts her between the loss of her status and the loss of her virginity to Rosier…

Okay, Severus, stop this, the snide part of his mind finally spat as Severus felt himself getting worked up. To his surprise, both of his hands were clenched tightly into fists, and he was even shaking with pent up energy. You're losing control, and you are footsteps away from the common room. If you go in there with your emotions out of joint, you'll lose control, and that'll cost you any social status you might have gained. Get a grip.

He took two long deep breaths and shook his head quickly as he slowed his gait. Muttering the password to the Slytherin common room, he slipped inside and quickly sliding along the wall, he crossed the room, darted down the hall, and quickly slid open the door to his dormitory.

Rabastan was reading on his bed, and Avery was pinning up a few Quidditch posters surrounding his niche in the room. Much to Severus' relief, Mulciber and Rosier were nowhere to be seen. Hell, it doesn't even look like Lestrange noticed I came in.

"Evening, Severus," Avery said wearily, tacking up his last poster and slumping onto his trunk. "Some day, wasn't it?"

"Some day," Severus muttered darkly. "Thankfully, we won't have Charon again until later during the week – I don't think the school can handle such a… commotion very often."

Avery shrugged. "Couldn't be much worse, though," he mused, more to himself than to Severus, who was smoothing out his sheets. "I mean, it's not like anybody's going to say anything, or else they'd get their bits hexed off –"

"Do you know a curse like that?" Rabastan asked suddenly, his strange eyes brightening with interest.

"No," Severus said flatly. "Avery, somehow, I don't think this'll go away as quickly as one might think. The other classes have yet to have Charon, and frankly, with the kind of gossip that'll be sparked by that disaster of a class, I don't think we'll hear the end of –"

BANG.

"Is it true?" Mulciber asked, his eyes wide and his voice dripping with incredulity. "Are you and Narcissa Black – Narcissa Black – a couple?"

There was silence in the room for a few seconds as both Avery and Rabastan looked at Severus. He shook his head with mingled astonishment and disdain. Well, I've been wrong before.

"Appears I was wrong about the gossip," Severus said after a few seconds, a small grin crossing his face. "Apparently, people would rather talk about me than Professor Charon and his horrifying Defense classes."

"More juicier gossip, Snape," Avery replied, rolling his eyes. "Mulciber, they are dating."

"What? How?" Mulciber asked, aghast. "How the hell did you, Snape, score Narcissa?"

"I didn't score her," Severus replied, miffed at the remark. It was a deal with Lucius, not a 'score.' "After she broke from Lucius, we began to pursue a relationship. It… culminated over the summer, so to speak." Not entirely a lie, but it's not like Mulciber will notice the discrepancies. Never thought he'd be the one to bring it up, though… thought it would be Rosier…

"Was that the reason you two were dancing at Malfoy's?" Mulciber asked shrewdly. "Never knew you had moves like that, Snape."

"There are a lot of things you don't know about me, Mulciber," Snape replied smoothly. "Many of which would shock and appall you." Like the fact I'm a half-blood, or that I spent most of the summer associating with a Muggle girl, or that I saved Lupin's furry little tail from the Ministry… no, those are secrets you won't discover…

Mulciber let out a low whistle. "I gotta tell you Snape, I never would have thought it of you…"

"Don't tell me you were involved in that bloody pool too!" Severus said with exasperation.

Mulciber gaped. "You found out? How –"

"Once again, there's a lot of things you don't know about me," Severus replied with a smirk. "Where's Rosier?"

Mulciber shrugged. "Probably shagging – I mean, what else does he do?"

"Plenty else, Damian, plenty," a new voice came from behind the burly student as Rosier shouldered his way into the room.

"So you won't be able to regale us with the tales of your sexual exploits?" Severus said sarcastically. "A great tragedy, to be sure."

"Hey, it's your turn to share now, Snape, now that you're with Narcissa – fine catch, by the way," Rosier said, with a growing smirk. There was something slightly off, almost strained about the young man's tone, and Severus immediately tensed. It's no surprise he's not too thrilled that Narcissa chose me over him, especially considering his intentions…

"It'll be a cold day in hell before I discuss the details of my relationships with you, Rosier," Severus replied simply, flipping open his trunk. "Or with anybody, for that matter. We've heard enough of your stories…"

Avery chuckled. "At least somebody has their priorities in the right place."

"So what about you and Marlene, Avery?" Evan snapped, rounding on the prefect. "Gotten any action, yet?"

Avery clenched a fist. "I swear, Evan, just drop it. It's not your business."

"I already told you she's a shitty shag," Rosier said with a shrug as he began to pull off his school robes and pull on his silk pajamas. "Bit of advice, mate, ditch her before she gets clingy, or you'll never hear the end of it –"

Avery went red. "For the last time, I don't want to hear about anything that you might or might not have done with Marlene! And Snape doesn't have to tell you or any of us anything about him and Narcissa! It's his business, not yours!"

Rosier shook his head nonchalantly and sat down on his bed, kicking his feet out. "Gee, Nicholas, are you just trying to deny something that might be true, or did you finally grow a pair?"

"I'm a prefect, Evan," Avery growled. "And you'd do well to remember it."

"And the Dark Lord favours me," Rosier snarled back, getting to his feet. "And my father. If you have any goals left of joining him, you'll remember your place here."

Every nerve in Severus' body was screaming at him to get to his feet and say something – anything – to stop Rosier, but he knew better. I can't have Rosier as an enemy, and even through there will be rivalry for Narcissa, I can't have open animosity between us – it would tear Slytherin apart…

"How do you know," Avery asked slowly, "that the Dark Lord favours you?"

Rosier sniffed. "He favours my father and the Rosier line, and that line includes me."

"He favours your father," Avery spat, his mouth turning upwards with cold triumph. "He doesn't even know you exist."

Rosier's eyes were burning, but his cool aplomb didn't fade. "You can't threaten or hurt me, Avery," he said softly. "We're both on the same side. We all are."

"The Dark Lord respects competition between families," Avery growled, "and he does not tolerate disrespect where it is not earned."

"Not earned?" Rosier asked, a faint incredulous tone to his words. "You're dating a half-blood, Nicholas! I'm trying to help you avoid seeing your worst fear – betraying him. After all," he added, putting a hand on Avery's shoulder, "that's what friends are for."

Some friend you are, Severus thought with disgust.

"I know what I'm doing," Avery growled, shoving off Rosier's hand and moving towards the bathroom.

"I hope so," Rosier replied, exhaling quickly. "I really do. You have talent, and the Dark Lord abhors seeing talent wasted."

"I'm sure."

"And good blood."

"I get it," Avery said through clenched teeth, not looking back at Rosier.

"But Nicholas, just remember one thing."

Avery stopped in his tracks. "What?"

"If you cross me again… forget your place…" Rosier said, his light tone belied by the quietness of his voice, "I can make Marlene just… disappear." He snapped his fingers. "Like that."

Severus could see Avery shaking with rage. "Is that," he asked in a low voice, not turning around, "a threat, Rosier?"

"No," Rosier said with a thin smile, shaking his head. "It's a promise between friends, one I intend to keep."


"Regulus, wake up!"

"Severus, what the –"

"Shut up, will you, we need to talk – now."

"Severus, it's past two, why the hell –"

Severus bent close to Regulus. "Because I need to know that we won't be overheard," he whispered furiously. "Now come!"

Regulus quickly got to his feet and flung on a robe. Severus, still fully dressed, pulled the young man out of his dormitory and into the abandoned common room.

"You know, if this is what being a friend to you is like, I might have to reconsider –"

"Oh, stow it for once?" Severus said with exasperation, pulling out his wand. "Muffliato."

Regulus raised an eyebrow. "You wake me at two in the bloody morning to talk, and you're still using charms to block the sound? Severus, what the hell is going on?"

"I kissed Narcissa today."

Regulus shook his head. "I'm sorry, I must have misheard, because I just thought I heard you say that you kissed Narcissa today."

"This evening, after dinner."

Regulus' eyes went wide. "Not planning on waiting much, are you?"

"Regulus –"

"Oh fine, but I had to say it," Regulus said with a hint of an annoyed smile. "Well?"

"Well what?"

"Was she… good?"

"I've never kissed a girl before her, Regulus, so I can't really be the one to tell you, considering I cannot compare it to anything," Severus said tensely. "I don't know what's good or not!"

"Were you good?"

Severus let out a brief chuckle, despite everything. "Narcissa said I was, and I don't think she was joking."

"Lucky you," Regulus noted, his smile getting wider. "I guess the pool owes me a lot of Galleons –"

"We haven't gone all the way yet, so don't get your hopes up," Severus replied, his expression deadly serious again. "But I think we were seen."

Regulus shrugged. "That occasionally happens if you kiss someone in a school."

"I think Rosier might have seen us."

The cheer was gone from Regulus' face in an instant. "Are you sure?"

"No, I'm not sure, but I witnessed a pretty nasty argument between him and Nicholas Avery, and Rosier threatened to make Avery's girlfriend Marlene disappear." Severus fixed Regulus with a deadly eye. "You know what that means."

Regulus scoffed. "He was bluffing, and you know things have been tense between Avery and Rosier since the train."

"I think there might be more this time, though," Severus said in a low voice. "Rosier didn't like to see his prized prefect slip out from under his reach, and he threatened him in a way that makes it seem that he's willing to use family power to get what he wants."

"Well, he is –"

"But against a respected family like the Averys?" Severus asked incredulously. "The Rosiers are powerful, but a vendetta like that hasn't been declared for decades – and Rosier has never threatened Avery before."

"So how exactly does this concern you?"

"I think Rosier was trying to send a message to me," Severus said in a low voice, his eyes blazing. "Mulciber and Lestrange are already on his side, but he knows I've never been as close to him as even Avery. Why else would he make a show of things, if not to try and intimidate me away from Narcissa?"

"Rosier's not that cunning."

"Maybe, but he is determined, ambitious, and a conniving little bastard when he wants to be," Severus said darkly, "and I can't trust that he won't make my life hell. By Merlin, I've already got Potter and those damned Marauders to deal with, I don't need Rosier compounding the problem!"

"Severus, you can't solve this problem," Regulus said, his own voice low as he leaned closer. "You can only manage it. Look, I know that Rosier is twisted, but you were set to be rivals the second you made that deal with Lucius and Narcissa. You promised to protect her, and she's grateful for it. What you have to be aware of is that Rosier has political power in Slytherin. Narcissa might have a bit more, but Rosier's got family ties."

"So does Narcissa. Bellatrix would –"

"Do anything to protect her sister, but Rosier's also got the initiative," Regulus said in a low voice. "He'll have to make the first move – you can't touch him unless you have a solid way of destabilizing his political base. And part of that base is financial, and you can't touch him in terms of money, the Rosiers are an old family. Hard work and creativity isn't going to make a pile of gold like old family wealth, at least not in the timeframe we would need."

" 'We'?" Severus asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You think I want Rosier in the family, marrying my cousin?" Regulus asked with disgust. "I've seen what he does, and Narcissa deserves better. If Lucius hadn't –"

"If Lucius hadn't what, Regulus?" Severus asked sharply, his voice gaining an edge. "Is there something he hasn't been telling me? Regulus, if you know something –"

"It's a rumor, all right?" Regulus hissed. "Bellatrix mentioned it to me when she was trying to convince me to convince Narcissa not to go along with this charade. She still doesn't trust you."

"And vice-versa," Severus replied coldly. "But don't change the subject. What's this rumor?"

Regulus swallowed hard and even despite the Muffliato charm, he lowered his voice to a whisper. "Bellatrix is rising fast in the Death Eater 'hierarchy', if you can call it that, but the Dark Lord's inner circle is extremely exclusive. Lucius is the newest addition, and not all the Death Eaters are happy he's there – particularly Rosier Senior."

"Why would he even care?" Severus asked, bewildered.

Regulus gave a bitter laugh. "Severus, it's a power game. Lucius is extremely competent, charismatic, and dangerous. He also has the Malfoy fortune behind him, a force to be reckoned with. But the real cause is something deeper. Remember over dinner Rodolphus mentioning an 'incident with the Ludicrous Patents office'?"

"What has that have to do with anything?"

"I don't know all the details, but Lucius likes making power plays in business, and something happened in the Ludicrous Patents office that caused serious friction between Rosier Senior and Lucius – enough friction to hit the Prophet."

Severus' eyebrows shot up. "Are you saying that Malfoy bungled a business deal, and that's why I'm in this predicament? Why didn't he tell me this?"

Regulus looked visibly nervous now. "Look, I told you that I don't know the details – hell, Lucius is probably the only one who you'll get them from, and he's not talking – but I do know that the elder Rosier won whatever happened there, and that'll mean that our Rosier will have the confidence and temerity to stand up against whatever Lucius Malfoy can throw at him. It doesn't hurt his situation that Cygnus Black has a much more cordial relationship with the Rosiers than the Malfoys."

Severus put a hand to his forehead and stared into the smoldering fireplace, where only a few coals were remaining. "So Malfoy's influence won't be enough to stave off Rosier in the short or long term?"

"You knew that was going to be the case before you even got involved in this," Regulus said hesitantly.

"It would have helped that I knew this before I made this deal with Malfoy!" Severus snapped.

"Would it have changed anything?"

Severus stared into the fire for a long few seconds. "It would have given me perspective on the entire issue."

"But you still would have agreed to protect Narcissa."

"Malfoy should have stated his motive, and he should have told me what to expect from Rosier," Severus said flatly.

"Once again, it wouldn't change anything – you still would have agreed to protect Narcissa." Regulus held up his hands. "As I said, there's nothing we can do about this now – we just have to manage the ramifications."

Manage the ramifications… Severus shook his head as he put his hand to his temples, where there were beginnings of a throbbing headache. "So the only way I'll be able to intimidate Rosier back is to build a political power base of my own."

"Narcissa and I can help you there simply because of our presence," Regulus said bracingly, "but… hell, Severus, you must have seen this coming."

"I don't like manipulating people," Severus growled.

"You're sure good at it, if you don't like it," Regulus shot back. "Severus, you are a relative unknown in Slytherin political games – a bonus, really, because people fear the unknown. And your capacity for keeping secrets –"

"Even if it entails hauling you out of bed at this ungodly hour," Severus remarked with a faint smirk.

"Not always necessary," Regulus said with a heavy sigh, "but I appreciate your caution – I wouldn't want this getting out. The point is, you're a player now in this mess. Frankly, it's ridiculous that we're even getting involved in this – we're teenagers, for Merlin's sake – but we're Slytherins, and with that comes politics and that whole twisted game."

"And your piece is on my side of the board," Severus finished, rubbing his chin.

"Right now it is," Regulus muttered. "You're infinitely preferable to Rosier. And I still owe you for what happened with Sirius last summer."

"So how could I build my 'power base'?" Severus asked, turning away from the fire and looking at Regulus. "How could I implicitly threaten Rosier and make him back off?"

Regulus thought for a few seconds before breaking into a slow smile. "Rosier's going to be damaging his political reputation enough – at least among the girls – with his relentless shagging, but that'll be long-term damage. You want to hit him early?"

"The sooner he's off Narcissa's and my plates, the better."

Regulus got to his feet. "Join me on the Quidditch team, and Rosier won't be able to touch you."

Severus was incredulous. "You honestly think Quidditch is going to intimidate Rosier, a future Death Eater?"

"It's Quidditch, and with it comes popularity and political power," Regulus said with an easy shrug. "It worked for Antonin Dolohov, it can work for you too. Don't tell me you haven't considered it! Hell, I know you were considering it!"

Severus had considered Quidditch, but the memories of the one trial he had attended were stark in his mind. But I'm stronger, tougher, and smarter than I was before… no, Sirius Black wouldn't be able to stop me this time…

"I'll think about it," he finally conceded. "Do you think it'll work?"

"Would I suggest something that doesn't?"

"Regulus…"

The younger boy shrugged. "It probably will… hell, it worked for me, but I had family and power before. You'll have more of a fight going in than I did, but you've got a chance."

Severus considered this for a few seconds. He's got a point… I wonder why he's been so cooperative, though. Regulus must have another motive behind my success…

"When you find out when trials are," Severus said slowly, "please tell me."

Regulus shook his head in wonderment. "You're going through with it, aren't you?"

"Perhaps."

"You know you're going to flip Slytherin upside down with this?"

"You were the one who gave me the advice. You're as responsible for the loss of stability as I am, Regulus."

Regulus snorted. "Whoever gave you a smart mouth should be taken out and shot."

"I'll be sure to inform you, Narcissa, and Lucius of your intentions for them."


"Lily! Lily Evans! Lily!"

The red-headed girl spun and gave James Potter her most exasperated and frustrated glare. Apparently, she thought with satisfaction as the young man stepped back in shock, my glares have developed some stopping power over the summer… well, at least Petunia was good for something…

"Potter, what gave you the mistaken impression that I would have any desire to hear your voice at eight o'clock in the morning before my favourite class?" she asked.

"I thought Potions was your favourite class," James said, his surprise plainly evident on his face. "You're saying that Charms is now your favourite class? When did this change? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Probably because I avoid you like the Black Death," Lily said bitingly.

"Hey!" Sirius shouted. "I'm the Black Wonder! My oldest cousin is the only one who can claim that title!"

James, for one of the few times in his life, didn't laugh at Sirius' ridiculous pun, although he did allow a smile to creep across his face. "Since when did Charms become your favourite class?"

Maybe because I have a strong suspicion that Potions is going to be a living hell with Severus in that class, but you don't need to know that, James Potter. She shrugged. "Maybe because I got an 'Outstanding' on the O.W.L. or because I've always had an aptitude for the subject. Either way, it's not your concern."

"Oh come on, I'm trying to have a… a…" James took a steadying breath, "a mature and rational conversation with you!"

Lily cocked an eyebrow. "You decided to mature over the summer? So you're using the big-boy toilet now?"

"Yep," James replied with a smile. "Actually, I've been doing that for several years now."

"There's no proof of that!" Peter shouted down the hall from where he was standing with the other Marauders.

Lily wrinkled her nose in disgust. "And how would he know one way or another? That's gross, Potter!"

James' face fell. "Okay, let's ignore Wormtail for a second before he ruins everything." He gave his friend a furious glare, which only made the shorter boy shrug. "So you say you're good at Charms, right?"

"Why do you care?"

"Can you cast a Cheering Charm on me?"

Lily rolled her eyes. "And why would I have any desire to do that, Potter?"

"Well, the alternative is to go out with me –"

"No."

"– So I figured I'd ask for the next best thing," James finished, deflating slightly at Lily's flat rejection. "I just want to be happy, Lily."

Lily stared at James for a long few seconds before shaking her head with incredulity and walking into the classroom, leaving James standing in the hallway.

"Hey! Maybe you can cast a Cheering Charm on yourself too!" James shouted desperately. "That way you can be happy too –"

"Just lay off her for a bit, James," Remus said tiredly, coming up behind him. "By the way, you can add that line to the list of 'Most Pathetic Pick-Up Lines Ever Composed By A Marauder'."

"Duly logged," Sirius said promptly, yanking out a tattered piece of paper and quickly beginning to scribble.

"I don't get it," James said with confusion. "I was mature, I was rational, I was even nice, and she wouldn't even acknowledge the fact I exist."

Little did he know that Lily could still hear James' voice from her seat in the classroom, which was only beginning to fill up with students. She shook her head with exasperation. At least my fellow prefect has his priorities in the right place…


For the first time in his life, Severus Snape was actually dreading going to Potions. Even as he was getting up from lunch after a particularly nasty Transfiguration lesson, the dungeon classroom loomed in the forefront of his mind.

"Narcissa, we could have a problem," he whispered to her.

"Is it that you look like something the ghoul dragged in?" she asked wryly. "Sleep, Severus, is a good thing for most individuals, and it doesn't seem like you're superhuman in that category."

"I assume Regulus already mentioned to you what I spoke to him about last night, then."

"You didn't have to wake him at two in the morning to discuss house politics."

"When Rosier's involved, you can't be too careful," Severus muttered. "No, it's about Potions."

Narcissa's smile vanished from her face. "Ah."

"You know who I, well, used to work with… or at least sit with when we were brewing our own potions."

"Did any of her fellow housemates make it through their Potions O.W.L.?" Narcissa asked sharply.

"I have no idea, Narcissa, I haven't talked to her for over two months," Severus replied, running a hand through his long hair with frustration. "But who else is she supposed to sit with if not us? It's typically four to a table, and since I can bet every Galleon I own that Pettigrew didn't make it through, her only real option is sitting with the damned Marauders."

Narcissa's eyes narrowed. "And?"

"I wouldn't wish Potter on anyone, much less Lily," Severus whispered. "My aims haven't changed, Narcissa, nor has my list. You know my ultimate goal."

"And you know that you have responsibilities now, Severus," Narcissa shot back, her voice equally cold, but there was a pleading edge in her gaze that had never been there before.

"You won't have to work with Rosier, Narcissa, and I'm not suggesting you don't sit with me," he hastily said. "But it is four to a table, and I know better than to sit with Rosier and Mulciber – how either of those two imbeciles got through their O.W.L.s, I won't ever know –"

"You lent them your notes," Narcissa said with a faint noise of disgust. "You shouldn't have, but I know why you did."

"Like I had a choice then," Severus replied. "Although denying them notes now could strengthen my position…"

"Forget the politics now, Severus, what do you want to do with your other interest?" Narcissa asked intently. "You know if we let her sit with us – something that all our good Slytherin instincts will deny – I'm not talking to her."

"You're not expected to," Severus said tiredly.

"And you know that you're jeopardizing your own position with this –"

Severus groaned in protest as he tried to stave off the raging headache that was erupting through his skull. "I can't bloody win this, Narcissa! I can either abandon her, losing any avenue to talk to her again, or I ruin any status in Slytherin by sitting with her!"

Narcissa snapped her fingers. "But if you get the situation to be taken out of her hands, you might be able to engineer it so she is forced to sit with us! That way, you avoid a status loss and you can get a chance to reestablish a connection."

"And how can I do that?"

Narcissa smirked. "Slughorn."


Lily swore as she scrambled to fit her books into her bag as she dashed down the hallway towards the Potions classroom. Surprised at the foul words that came from her mouth, she shook her head with disappointment as she shoved the door open with her foot. To think that I've picked up swearing too… god, if I don't stop this degeneration, I'm going to start behaving like Athena…

As she had expected, the Charms homework that Flitwick had assigned took longer than expected, and Lily had lost track of time in the library. She had told Mary to go on ahead to Potions without her – the two of them had been the only Gryffindor sixth-year girls that had passed the O.W.L. well enough to get into Slughorn's class – and she hoped that her friend has saved her a seat. No matter the option, I'm not sitting with the Marauders… I'd fail the bloody class, or end up salvaging the messes of their Potions…

But when she pulled open the door, already filled with heady scents, she saw the class was nearly full already – and that Mary had already taken one of the few available seats, at the Marauders' table, usually reserved for Peter Pettigrew in previous years.

"Oho!" a voice said from the front of the classroom as Professor Slughorn looked up from a small cauldron on his desk. "Looks like one of my potions prodigies is late for class!"

"I apologize, Professor," Lily replied, sliding inside the classroom. "Is there any particular spot you want me to take…"

Her voice trailed off as she saw the last seat in the classroom – at the end of a table at the front of the classroom.

Next to Severus Snape, Narcissa Black, and Nicholas Avery.

"Professor, I don't mean to be rude, but –"

Slughorn's bushy eyebrows shot up. "Oh, come now, Miss Evans, you've worked alongside Severus in the past –"

"With all due respect, Professor, that was the past," Lily said through gritted teeth. "If I could –"

"I insist," Professor Slughorn said with a decisive nod. "After all, I like having my best Potions students at the front of the room so I can admire their progress. Go on, Miss Evans, my Slytherins are civil."

Both James and Sirius let out audible snorts, and for once, Lily was inclined to agree with them.

"Please, Miss Evans, I would like to start my class."

Trembling with barely-contained anger, Lily strode up to her seat, brought up her cauldron, and slammed it audibly on the table. Then, sliding her chair as far as she could from Severus, she sat down, glaring daggers at Slughorn. Mary wore a horrified expression, while Sirius and James exchanged nervous looks.

"Now, I must say, I'm impressed at the number of students that passed the O.W.L. this year," Slughorn said exuberantly, clapping his hands together. "Sixteen students: five Gryffindors, five Slytherins, five Ravenclaws, and a single Hufflepuff. On all four of your tables rest a large cauldron of potion. Who can identify said potions? Mister Rosier, what is the potion on your desk?"

Rosier, who was sitting with Mulciber and two Ravenclaw girls (who were batting their eyelashes at Rosier), jerked up and quickly looked inside the cauldron. "Uh… it looks like some kind of brown sludge…"

Severus shook his head with disgust, and Lily heard him mutter something under his breath.

"We don't brew brown sludge, Mr. Rosier," Slughorn said disapprovingly. "Mr. Snape, any ideas?"

"It's Polyjuice, obviously," Severus answered immediately, rolling his eyes. "A potion that allows a human being to be polymorphed into another's shape."

"Quoted right from the textbook!" Slughorn exclaimed with pleasure. "Fine work!"

"Probably because he ate the damned thing," James muttered. Sirius chuckled lightly, but the noise made Slughorn's gaze jump to them.

"Mr. Potter, would you be able to identify the potion on your desk?"

James looked quickly inside the cauldron, frowning slightly. "I've seen this before… damn, it smells familiar…"

"You'll need more than that, Potter," Lily replied sardonically, rolling her eyes. "Next you'll think the best way to identify it is to taste it."

"So you know what it is, Miss Evans?" Slughorn asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"I caught a whiff of it as I walking by the desk," Lily said grimly. "And there's only one potion that smells distinctly like gunpowder while it's on a desk, Professor, and that's the Combustion Concoction. It's not on a fire like the others because it's a powerful explosive when heated."

Remus, James, and Mary all shoved their chairs as far away from the cauldron as possible, while Sirius moved closer to get a closer look, his eyes gleaming with awe and curiosity.

"Fine work, Miss Evans," Slughorn said with a smile. "Miss McKinnon, did you manage to identify your potion?"

"Easily, Professor," Marlene McKinnon said with a smile as leaned back in her chair, at the table with two other Ravenclaws and the lone Hufflepuff boy. "Veritaserum, a colourless, odourless potion that makes one tell the truth. I'd need an analysis to tell you the strength."

"Smart girl," Avery muttered under breath with admiration as Slughorn congratulated Marlene for her knowledge.

"So she's not just a great kisser, Nicholas?" Narcissa asked slyly.

"Oh shut up," Avery replied quickly, his face going red.

"And who can tell me what is the potion on the front table?" Slughorn asked, gesturing at the massive cauldron in front of Lily.

"Amortentia," Lily and Severus said at the exact same time. Momentarily surprised, they glared at each other. Narcissa groaned as she put her hand to her forehead.

"Exactly!" Slughorn said, smiling widely. "And I would guess you both know what it does…"

"Characterized with mother-of-pearl sheen –" Severus began.

"And with its peculiar smoke patterns –" Lily interrupted.

"And the fact that it smells like everything we find most attractive –" Severus snapped.

"And that's because it's the strongest love potion in the world!" Lily snarled, glaring daggers at Severus, who matched her glare with equal force. You're not going to show me up, Severus Snape, she thought furiously. Not now, not ever.

"Bravo!" Slughorn said, applauding lightly. "It appears that my best Potions students are still sharp in identifying their potion –"

"Probably the only way that Snape could get two girls to even sit anywhere near him," Sirius added loudly.

"Don't push me, cousin," Narcissa growled.

"Although why he bothered with a Mudblood, one could wonder," Rosier added, his lazy drawl a sharp contrast to Sirius' obnoxiousness.

"At least the girls sitting with Snape have a brain in their head," Lily snapped back, "and are not just trying to get into your pants!"

"Miss Evans!" Slughorn gasped, astonishment and disappointment warring in his voice. "That's hardly appropriate!"

"She's got a point," Sirius and James muttered in identical whispers.

"Enough, class," Slughorn said sternly. "We must get on with the lesson. Ten points to Ravenclaw, but I'm not giving any points to Gryffindor or Slytherin for this. Be grateful I'm not giving out detentions."

"Professor," Avery asked hesitantly, "what's the cauldron on your desk? What's in there?"

"I was wondering when somebody was going to ask that," Slughorn said, a smile returning to his wide face. "In this little cauldron is a finicky little potion that's known as Felix Felicis. Anybody besides the two in front who know this potion?"

The lone Hufflepuff raised his hand hesitantly.

"Yes, Mr. Whitby?"

"Doesn't it make you… well, lucky?" he asked.

"Very good, Mr. Whitby!" Slughorn said with a smile. "A fine example of Hufflepuff pride! Reading ahead?"

Whitby flushed. "N-no sir, but I remember my mom and pop mentioning that they were both drinking a lot of it in the year before I was born…"

Giggles broke out across the room, and Lily shook her head, trying to restrain her tears of mirth. To think that his parents had to resort to that… I bet there's a story there…

"You might want to tell your parents that their strategy might have been, ah, unorthodox, but was ultimately very dangerous," Slughorn said, carefully keeping a sympathetic smile on his face. "Like all good things, this potion is toxic in high quantities, causing dangerous giddiness, overconfidence, and arrogance –"

"Wonder how long Potter's been drinking it," Severus whispered to Narcissa.

"Dangerously tricky to make, fiendishly expensive to purchase, but a treasure to possess," Slughorn finished. "And a single vial of this prized potion will be given to the owner of the best potion brewed at the end of this class!"

Nearly everyone's eyes snapped wide open. Could it be true what they were hearing?

"Of course, this little substance is banned in sporting competitions, elections, and examinations," Slughorn added, "but use it on an ordinary day and watch such a day become extraordinary! Your goal is to make a standard-strength Draught of Living Death. You have an hour: go!"

The entire class except Severus rushed to the store cupboards for ingredients. Lily, who had read over the lab the night before, already knew what the potion required, but she wanted it to be perfect – perfect enough to beat Severus…


"Snape, are you awake?" Avery hissed. "Get up, get your stuff! You're not going to let Evans beat you, are you?"

Severus didn't reply, only muttering under his breath as he scribbled in his battered copy of Advanced Potion-Making. To Lily's surprise, the margins were already black with ink, and half of the ingredient list was edited! Severus looks like he's making a different potion entirely, by the looks of that recipe! What is he playing at?

Lily clenched her fist as she began examining the recipe carefully. Then again, no wonder Severus edited this recipe… it's pathetic! How on earth does Libatius Borage expect us to make a proper Draught with this? The basics are correct, but it'll be substandard at best without significant editing…

Bringing her cauldron to a low boil, she began adding ingredients carefully, triple-checking each measurement. She knew that the concentrations of asphodel and wormwood had to be identical – Borage had gotten that right, at least – but without adequate juice from the sopophorous bean, the valerian roots wouldn't secret the necessary chemicals to make the asphodel mix completely with the wormwood. And you aren't going to get that kind of juice without squashing the bean with a knife, Lily thought smugly, flicking out her silver knife. But a second later, she saw Severus do the same. Damn, he saw it too…


"Why aren't you sitting with McKinnon, Nicholas?" Narcissa asked as she chopped her roots.

"I'm rather busy here, Narcissa," Avery replied, irritated. "I want to do well here…"

"I'm curious, and it's not like we're going to beat our fellow 'potions prodigies'," Narcissa said with a shrug as she slid her roots into her cauldron.

"She wanted to sit with her friends, and I respect her wanting some space," Avery replied with a shrug. "And it's not like I'm going to sit with Rosier anytime soon…"

"Can't blame you there," Narcissa muttered as she tried to cut the shriveled bean on her desk. "Severus, how did you get so much juice out of this damned thing?"

"Squash it," Severus muttered, tipping the copious amount of juice into his cauldron.

"What?"

"You'll get more juice, trust me," Severus replied, picking up his stirrer and carefully eyeing his potion. Lily had picked up her stirring stick at the same time and was shrewdly watching Severus. Narcissa felt a hot surge of anger in her gut, closely followed with a pang of shock at the amount of sheer jealousy in her heart. Oh Merlin, am I…

"Narcissa, your potion!"

Swearing under her breath, she quickly adjusted the heat below the potion, trying to prevent the cauldron from boiling over with foul-smelling lilac liquid.


I know as well as Severus that the number of stirs are important here, Lily thought, nervously fingering her stirrer, and I know that the numbers in the book are wrong, but is it six and two or seven and one? For once, I wish I actually took Arithmancy…

Finally, Severus carefully lowered his stirring rod into his potion. His brow was furrowed with concentration.

"It's seven and one," he muttered, "but there's still something missing…"

Lily breathed easier. I was right, thank God, but what does Severus think is missing?

But before she could think, she heard Slughorn call out the time and her pragmatic instincts kicked in. No time to experiment, I've got to finish this. Setting her stirring rod in the potion, she slowly stirred the potion. Seven counter-clockwise stirs, one clockwise…

She noticed Severus doing the same as her, but to her own surprise, her potion was slowly getting clearer – faster than her former friend's.

"How are you doing it?" Severus demanded. "How are you getting it so clear?" But his eyes immediately fell to Lily's stirrer and his eyes widened. "Of course…"

Lily looked with confusion at her own potion, but then she saw the difference immediately. Severus held his stirring rod completely vertically, while Lily's was slightly tilted, letting her sweep a wider circle in her cauldrons with her strokes and thus ensure a greater dispersal of dissolution in her potion. Amazing how such a tiny difference could make such a change…

"And time's… up! Well, class, let's see what you have!"

Severus and Lily wordlessly withdrew their stirring rods from their cauldrons, staring at the others' potion, wondering whose Slughorn would judge better.

"Not bad, Avery… a solid effort, Miss Black, very solid work… and now for my prodigies! Severus, Lily… incredible! Amazing! I have rarely seen such excellent potions! So clear, so crystalline, so perfect!" Drawing two flasks from his desk, Slughorn reached into the cauldrons and quickly filled them. Holding both flasks up to his eyes, he critically examined them.

"Well, sir?" Severus asked.

"Both are exceptional and are earning you perfect marks… and a healthy cut when I sell your potions in Hogsmeade this weekend, they're that good… but I must give my prize to Miss Evans this time! Lily, a finer work I have never seen! Such transparency is incredibly rare, and this sample is perfect!" Withdrawing the tiny vial of Felix Felicis from his waistcoat, he held it out to Lily. "Fine work, young lady, fine work! An extra five points to Gryffindor for such fine work too. Class dismissed."

"Well, you can't win all the time, Severus," Narcissa said consolingly as they left the classroom. "Frankly, I can't see how you two do it…"

"I'd be happy to win at least some of the time," Severus replied irritably. "Now that Slughorn actually knows that I exist, it'd be nice to get some recognition."

"At least you're going to get a cut from Slughorn's sale."

Severus snorted. "I'd rather get a few vials of that Polyjuice Potion or Veritaserum or Combustion Concoction… I'd hate to see what your beloved cousin has planned with the flasks he swiped."

Narcissa's eyes went wide. "He stole Slughorn's potion?"

Severus rolled his eyes and slid open his bag. Rummaging around inside, he carefully drew a flask halfway out of the bag – one filled with a very familiar potion.

Narcissa whistled softly in admiration. "You nicked the Amortentia?"

"I'm a Slytherin," Severus replied with a huff. "I'd be foolish not to. And besides," he added, lowering his voice to a whisper, "Rosier was eyeing it. He's dangerous enough, but with love potions…"

Narcissa swallowed hard. "He got the Polyjuice, didn't he?"

"He nicked it before I even thought of grabbing this," Severus replied tightly, closing his bag. "And we thought he was dangerous before."